Descriptive SummaryRepositoryThe Swarthmore College Peace Collection is not the official repository for this collection of records. Creator
Montgomery County Citizens Concerned About Central America TitleMontgomery County Citizens Concerned About Central America Collected Records Inclusive Dates1984-1991Call Number
CDG-ALanguage of Materials
Materials in EnglishExtent10 linear inches [papers only] Abstract
The Montgomery County Citizens Concerned About Central America (MCCACA) was founded in Septemberember 1984. Founding members of this Pennsylvania organization joined a nationwide effort to educate and mobilize citizens to challenge the United States government's foreign policy stance and actions in Central America.
MCCCACA activities ranged from letter-writing and petition campaigns, community forums and educational hearings, and sponsorship of relevant speakers and films, to controversial public demonstrations and protests. By March 1993 the group's activity had waned. Longtime leaders Sylvia Metzler, Judith Palmer and Jerilyn Bowen announced the decision to disband at that time.

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Processed by SCPC staff. Checklist prepared by Anne Yoder, May 2004. Finding aid revised by Andrew Ciampa, July 2010. Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Montgomery County Citizens Concerned About Central America Collected Records (CDG-A), Swarthmore College Peace CollectionCopyright NoticeCopyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendents, as stipulated by United States copyright law

Online Catalog Headings These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online library/archival catalogs.See tripod record

Historical BackgroundThe Montgomery County Citizens Concerned About Central America (MCCACA) began its tenure in September. 1984. Founding members of this Pennsylvania organization joined a nationwide effort to educate and mobilize citizens to challenge the United States government's foreign policy stance and actions in Central America. Durings its time of operation, the group focused more particularly on the fight against federal funding for the Contras, anti-guerilla forces in Nicaragua. The group's membership ranged from 75 to 130 during its lifetime.

The activities of the MCCCACA ranged from letter-writing and petition campaigns, community forums and educational hearings, and sponsorship of relevant speakers and films, to controversial public demonstrations and protests. The group's grassroots lobbying made extensive use of the media to influence Congress (notably Lawrence Coughlin) and local leaders. Publicized events included biannual "mock funerals" symbolizing the casualties of the ongoing conflict in Central America. In September. 1985, the group also sponsored an evening featuring the parents of Jean Donovan, one of four nuns slain in El Salvador. In Otober 1986, an important event featured Edgar Chamorro and David MacMichael; the former, a native of Nicaragua, had been a contra leader and past director of the CIA-backed Anti-Sandinista Democratic Force, while MacMichael was a former CIA analyst.

By March 1993 the group's activity had waned. Longtime leaders Sylvia Metzler, Judith Palmer and Jerilyn Bowen announced the decision to disband at that time.